Newsies (1992)

A musical based on the New York City newsboy strike of 1899. When young newspaper sellers are exploited beyond reason by their bosses they set out to enact change and are met by the ruthlessness of big business.

Director:

Kenny Ortega

Writers:

Bob Tzudiker, Noni White

Stars:

Christian Bale, Bill Pullman, Robert Duvall

1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christian Bale	...	Jack Kelly
David Moscow	...	David Jacobs
Luke Edwards	...	Les Jacobs
Max Casella	...	Racetrack Higgins
Gabriel Damon	...	Spot Conlon
Marty Belafsky	...	Crutchy
Arvie Lowe Jr.	...	Boots
Aaron Lohr	...	Mush
Trey Parker	...	Kid Blink
Dee Caspary	...	Snitch
Joseph Conrad	...	Jake
Dominic Maldonado	...	Itey
Matthew Schoenfeld	...	Snipeshooter (as Matthew Fields)
Mark David	...	Specs
Ivan Dudynsky	...	Dutchy

Storyline

July, 1899: When Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst raise the distribution price one-tenth of a cent per paper, ten cents per hundred, the newsboys, poor enough already, are outraged. Inspired by the strike put on by the trolley workers, Jack "Cowboy" Kelly (Christian Bale) organizes a newsboys' strike. With David Jacobs (David Moscow) as the brains of the new union, and Jack as the voice, the weak and oppressed found the strength to band together and challenge the powerful.

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Plot Keywords:

orphan | year 1899 | teenage boy | paperboy | based on true story | 

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Taglines:

A Thousand Voices. A Single Dream.

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Genres:

Drama | Family | History | Musical

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 April 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Newsboys

Filming Locations:

Burbank, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$2,819,485

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchwood Pacific Partners 1, Walt Disney Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Christian Bale was ashamed to tell his friends that this movie was a musical.

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Goofs

Right before Jack insults the Delancey brothers, the Newsie next to Boots takes his hat off and holds it in his hand. Immediately in the next shot, it's on again, pulled down tightly as if he never took it off.

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Quotes

Jack Kelly: So what do you say, Spot?
Spot Conlon: I say... that what you say... is what I say.

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Crazy Credits

Right before the credits begin rolling, a boy with a newspaper jumps up and the shot freezes on him. At the end of the credits the shot unfreezes and he falls down and rolls on the ground.

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Alternate Versions

The featurettes on the DVD version of "Newsies", include at least two scenes that were altered in the final movie:

• On the soundtrack for "Newsies" during the song "Carrying The Banner" there is a line that goes, "You need a smile as sweet as butter, the kind that ladies can't resist. It takes an orphan, with a stutter, who ain't afraid to use his fists." This footage is also present during the song on one of the featurettes, however in the movie, this part is cut, leading straight to the scene where the boys jump over the barrels.
• During another featurette, one of the cast members mentions that Christian Bale had to learn an extra skill for his part and then there is footage of him with a lasso doing various tricks. This scene appears to be from the "Santa Fe" song, although it is not made clear.

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Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Matthew McConaughey/Adele (2015)

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Soundtracks

SANTA FE (REPRISE)
Written by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Jack Feldman
Performed by Christian Bale

User Reviews

Carry the banner!

I'm 19 years old in college. I sing the music from this movie on my way to class. And people stop me and say "that's from 'Newsies!' I love that movie!" How many times do you get that kind of response? This movie was exciting, well-choreographed, and funny. It has the best ingredients a musical could have. The best part...you can find this stuff in the history books (well, maybe not dancing newsboys and Robert Duvall playing Joseph Pulitzer...but nobody's perfect...except Christian Bale). See it, love it, brings the kids. They'll want to carry the banner after the movie's long over.